About Snapper Island

Park features

Snapper Island rises 99 metres above sea level and supports several vegetation communities including closed vine forest, closed sclerophyll forest, a small mangrove community and a fringe of coastal vegetation.

The island is home to a variety of woodland, sea and other bird species. During the summer months, pied imperial-pigeons visit the island between bouts of feeding in the mainland forests.

The island is part of the traditional sea country of the Eastern Kuku Yalanji Aboriginal people, who continue to hunt and fish around the island. In the early 1900s a lime kiln operated on the island and beche-de-mer (sea cucumber) processing may also have taken place. The watercourse stonework of what is believed to be an early Chinese market garden is still visible on the island today.

Read more about the nature, culture and history of Snapper Island, Hope Islands National Park (CYPAL).

Looking after the park

• Everything in the park, living or dead, is protected. Please leave everything as you found it.
• Feeding of wildlife is prohibited as it can affect the health of wild animals.
• Camp only in the sites provided and remember to obtain a camping permit prior to your departure.
• Use only the walking tracks provided.
• Use only fuel stoves—campfires are prohibited.
• Remove everything that you bring onto the island—take your rubbish home.
• Domestic animals and firearms are prohibited.
• Use the toilet facilities provided.

Be pest-free!

Our precious Great Barrier Reef World Heritage islands are among the most pest-free islands in the world. They need your help to stay this way. Please Be pest-free! (PDF, 573.6KB) before your visit.

Before you visit, please check that your boat, clothing, footwear and gear are free of soil, seeds, parts of plants, eggs, ants and insects (and their eggs), spiders, lizards, toads, rats and mice.

Be sure to:

• Unpack your camping gear and equipment and check it carefully as pests love to hide in stored camping gear.
• Clean soil from footwear and gear as invisible killers such as viruses, bacteria and fungi are carried in soil.
• Check for seeds in pockets, cuffs and hook and loop fastening strips, such as Velcro.

While you are on the islands, remove soil, weeds, seeds and pests from your boat, gear and clothes before moving to a new site. Wrap seeds and plant material, and place them in your rubbish.

Everyone in Queensland has a General Biosecurity Obligation to minimise the biosecurity risk posed by their activities. This includes the risk of introducing and spreading weeds and pests to island national parks.

See the guidelines on caring for parks for more information about protecting our environment and heritage in parks.

Park management

Snapper Island is within Hope Islands National Park (CYPAL). It is managed by QPWS to preserve the highly significant environmental and cultural values of the island whilst providing and managing a range of visitor opportunities.

The reef waters surrounding Snapper Island are within the Great Barrier Reef World Heritage Area. The surrounding waters of the islands are managed under the Great Barrier Reef Coast Marine Park and the Great Barrier Reef Marine Park.

Snapper Island is managed in accordance with the Hope Islands National Park management plan and the Snapper Island Section - Hope Islands National Park - Management Statement 2006-2016 (PDF, 819.4KB) .

Tourism information links

For tourism information for all regions in Queensland see Queensland Holidays.